With a focused gaze on her daughter, Olivia began to continue the story...
Rumors that Lucy was a werewolf began to spread through the land during the later years, specifically during Frederick's reign. It is unknown who originally spun this tale, but it was something considered to be half-truth and half-myth.
"What was the reason for saying they were werewolves...?" Aamy asked.
"The reason for that was the group itself, known as Mystic Shadow. Torus was the head of that army. It was said that Torus bore a striking facial resemblance to Lucy... he could have been like a brother to her," Olivia clarified.
"Perhaps. But what I don't understand is why they were described that way," Aamy said.
"Child, let me tell the story... you will find the answers to the doubts you keep asking right within the story itself," Olivia teased with a smile. Aamy felt a little sheepish at her own curiosity.
"Once, someone saw Torus in the depths of the forest and supposedly saw him transforming into a wolf. Since it was a time when folklore stories were widely popular, it didn't take long for that news to spread throughout the land. When you think about it, there was a certain logic to it... their victory in war came from their strength and speed—a speed that was far beyond what a normal human could achieve."
"Then there was their appearance... and the symbols they had on their bodies. It is said those were werewolf symbols, similar to the tattoos we have today. Torus was considered to be like a brother to Lucy. It's even said Lucy herself once admitted it. If he was a werewolf, then Lucy must be one too. After all, if a son is born to a human and a werewolf, he would certainly be a half-wolf, half-human... but..."
That wasn't a problem for the people of that land. Because under their protection, they experienced a level of peace, happiness, and order that no other land, even as great as the city of Edinburgh, had ever seen.
Olivia stopped. Just as she finished the story, she picked up the plates from the finished meal and stood up.
"Mummy, you haven't finished yet...!" Aamy said, noticing it immediately.
"That's all there is to the story..." Mummy replied.
"But Mummy, this feels incomplete... what is the mystic connection between Edinburgh Castle and that island in the sea...?"
"The answer is right there in your question," Olivia replied with a smile.
"Even today, that island that humans cannot reach is known in folk legends as Mystic Shadows. They live there in a way that our minds can neither comprehend nor believe. More importantly, their connection to this land is through Edinburgh Castle. It is said there is a secret tunnel leading from that island to the Castle, and that the forests and mountain ranges near our home were dedicated specifically to them".
The primary reason for this was Lucy's passion for hunting. There were days when she would leave the Castle and spend her time deep in the woods and mountains. Daniel had given his full consent for this, which was a source of great wonder for the people there. To Daniel, Lucy was like a soulmate, and she felt the same toward him. Even though the Mystic Shadows dedicated their service to the palace, they lived within that forest; the wilderness was their beloved home.
"I don't know if there's anything more to it... because to this day, no one has actually seen a werewolf in those woods. But our land has a history like this, just as Edinburgh Castle was renovated and rebuilt after the Werewolf War".
History records this through mural paintings and inscriptions found in various parts of the Castle, depicting the friendship between them and the King. After saying all this, as Olivia prepared to leave, Aamy sat there lost in thought.
"and one more thing, they say werewolves sometimes come among humans looking for their own kind. Since they have human forms, it's hard to recognize them, isn't it?
Still, if one were to see someone exceptionally beautiful and remarkably tall, there would be no reason not to wonder..."
When Mummy replied with a playful tease, everyone laughed.
"Just like that... Edon was a hunter who went out searching for her kind... and Amelia was her mate".
When you set aside the idea of it being just a myth or a story, and look at it through that lens, Amelia might indeed have been Edon's mate. Their concept of 'mate' is something of immense value and completeness. It is a desire and a necessity above all else. While humans find satisfaction in the life they are given, those creatures find satisfaction only in the love for their mate and their country, and in the protection they provide.
"There is a difference here..."
Having said that, Mummy turned and walked back into the kitchen. While the others left Aamy alone and went about their own business, Aamy remained there, her mind traveling through every detail of that story.
________________________________________
"Just like your mummy said, I once heard a story from my Grandpa," said John, a colleague and friend, while they were sitting in the canteen drinking coffee.
"I think it was while we were watching a werewolf movie. At a time when films portrayed them as monsters, Grandpa said: 'They are not monsters, they are protectors.' He said they were like gods who once stood as a shield for this land. But they, Lucy the Queen, and Frederick... they all just became mere characters in a nomad's tale".
Amy, John, and Alex had studied together. Alex was a travel enthusiast and spent most of his time on journeys.
"I'm just trying to connect Amelia's case... seriously, I won't have any peace until I understand what really happened to her," Aamy said.
"This is just curiosity, Aamy..." John teased.
"It is... but don't you feel anything after hearing Amelia's story? Or do you think these are just wild fantasies? Does such an island really exist?" Aamy asked with disappointment. "I once set out to the mountains when I was young and returned halfway... and that too, because of a wolf".
"I've heard there are rare wolves in that forest, I had gone there about two years back," Alex added.
"So, have you seen such an island?" Aamy asked eagerly.
"You can see it if you look from the top of the mountains. It's incredibly beautiful... you'll feel like traveling there. But it is a restricted area by the government. They say no one who goes there has ever returned... Scientists have found that it is a place with immense gravitational pull," Alex explained.
"Hey, then why don't we go trekking to those mountains?" Aamy suggested. However, her face fell in disappointment at Alex's response...